07.19.08
APPLE STORE OPENING
SALT
Listen up! Mac opened their first store in China! And we were there! It turned out to be a fun and high energy event. Wow!
When we first walked up we thought, “Hey! The lines aren’t that bad.” Then, we were escorted to the red building on the left and given a plastic bracelet. Apparently, only 300 people were allowed into the building at a time and those 300 were already queued outside.
Meanwhile, we waited inside a comfortable air-conditioned room with very hip music.
Schäfer got his groove on.
After a while of waiting inside, we were allowed to wait outside. Thankfully, Hubs saved our place in line while Schäfer played.
The Mac team ran around the queue and gave everyone high fives. Surely, they all had an extra shot in their latte this morning.
Yeah, the Mac reps are finally allowed into the store. The opening countdown is almost here!
Can you find Hubs under our big mushroom umbrella?
Meanwhile, Schäfer found rocks! What an exciting morning!
Before we knew it, we (and half of Beijing) were in the store.
Suddenly, there was a rush of people to one corner. Who could it be? Hu Jin Tao? Jackie Chan?
Hubs is completely undistracted and spends some time on his favorite web site.
It’s Su You Peng – a movie and pop star!
Obviously a place Hubs should call home.
Shorel: My wife and child at home in the spotlight!
It’s a mini Eastern Journey on the iPod touch!
Finally, we got our hands on a Mac Air. (Coming soon!)
Hubs is so into the Mac Air that he doesn’t even notice that Chen Lu Yu is next to him. She’s a local tv celebrity.
This Mac employee gives Chen an enthusiastic sell. “Buy the computer! You have the money! Don’t pretend you don’t! Buy! Buy! Buy!”
What a fun morning – and free t-shirts to boot!
We worked up quite an appetite and headed to the hottest restaurant in Beijing: Salt. We hoped that we could pop in for a fabulous lunch…with a toddler.
Apparently yesterday it was buzzing, but today it was quiet. We were so thankful because we do feel bad when our toddler is…a toddler…in a new place with lots of new faces, shiny tableware, etc.
In the 2008 that’s Beijing Restaurant Awards, Salt was the winner of best Contemporary Cuisine, best Service, and Restaurant of the Year (non-Chinese). They were also honorable mention in the business lunch and steak category.
We enjoyed a salad, foie gras, seared tuna and a steak.
Our dessert took 20 minutes to prepare (there was a warning on the menu). Don’t you just love a kitchen you can see?
Hmmm…was this worth 20 minutes?
Oh my – it’s a dark chocolate and white chocolate molten cake. Worth the wait. Oh, yes.
After a great morning at the Mac store and a wonderful lunch at Salt, we headed home for a much needed nap. That evening, we met up with friends from school.
